The response of young almond trees to different drip-irrigated conditions. Development and yield

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Abstract
Three-year-old almond trees were drip-irrigated for five years at four different levels related to Class A pan evaporation. The initial coefficients of evaporation were increased at the beginning of each year in accordance with the increase of per cent shaded ground area. Water stress levels, yields and vegetative development of the trees were recorded annually. The driest treatment produced a high level of water stress, which reduced yield and tree size (trunk cross-section and canopy area). The per cent kernel and kernel size were unaffected by the amount of water applied. Yield, canopy area and irrigation were closely correlated. The more heavily watered treatments were less productive per unit of water applied, possibly owing to greater transpiration rates.